I read today that the Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy only weighed 126 pounds. The Soviet edition of his works, published over a period of 30 years, came to 90 volumes. Tolstoy's words out-weighed his body! As a preacher and writer, I sure hope my words out-weigh my body when everything is said and done. I've got a little more work to do than Tolstoy, however, because I weigh alot more than he did--at least my body does.
When everything is said and done, I think that I will leave some good memories and good deeds. I'll leave an example to follow, and hopefully a spiritual and financial inheritance for my kids. But I'd also like to leave words. I'm so inspired by previous generations of writers. I hope to inspire future generations of thinkers.
I think Thomas Jefferson wrote something on the order of 22,000 letters with a quill pen. That doesn't leave much of an excuse for those of us with computers and printers.